Question

Discuss the role and implementation of Material Control and Accountancy in the context of nuclear safeguards. Describe the purpose, use, and implementation of Key Measurement Points (KMP) and Material Balance Areas (MBA).

Answer 1

Role of Material Control:

Material Control is a management function that is concerned with the storage, handling, and use of materials to minimise waste and improve inventory accuracy. This process can be beneficial for companies to improve organization and productivity and also to reduce costs.

Role of Accountancy:

Accounting for material at a nuclear facility is essential for efficient and economical operation, to the health and safety of the facility workers and the public, and to prevention of misuse of these materials, particularly for proliferation of nuclear weapons. The principle objectives of an accounting system for safeguarding nuclear materials are

1. To provide assurance that all the material quantities are present in the correct time.

2. To estimate the amount of any loss and its location.

3. To provide timely detection of a material loss.

Implementation of Material control and Accountancy:

Material Control and Accountancy is implemented by NMAC ( Nuclear Material Accounting and Control ) system which is maintained by NMAC Manager.

The NMAC system at the facility level is established within the context of a national regulatory framework and is controlled by the State's competent authority.

The NMAC manager and staff have responsibility for maintaining the records system used by the facility to document and track all nuclear material at facility, including inventory and movements. NMAC personnel should develop facility specific procedures that convey the NMAC requirements to operations personnel. NMAC staff should be provided with appropriate NMAC training to all facility personnel to assure the quality and status of implementation of NMAC requirements.

Mass Balance Areas:

An MBA is an area in a nuclear facility designated such that (a) the quantity of nuclear material in each movement into or out of MBA can be determined (b) the physical inventory of nuclear material in each MBA can be determined when necessary.

Key Measurement Points(KMC) :

KMC is a physical location where nuclear material appears in such a form that it may be measured to determine material flow or inventory.

MBA is the basic unit of NMAC system . MBA and KMC comes under the NMAC system and implemented by NMAC manager .